Donora Mass to honor Stan the Man

This artwork, provided by Badzik Printing, was used on the program for Stan Musial’s funeral Mass in St. Louis and will be used for the program of the memorial service Saturday in Donora.

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DONORA – A Roman Catholic Mass will be celebrated Saturday in the late Stan “The Man” Musial’s hometown of Donora to honor the pro baseball legend.

The program at Our Lady of the Valley Church on Second Street Extension will follow the same one used in St. Louis when the funeral Mass was held Jan. 25 for the Hall of Famer who has been called one of the nicest baseball players of his time, Donora Mayor John Lignelli said.

Musial, who played 22 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals, died Jan. 19 at age 92.

Lignelli said there has been some discussion about creating a statue for Donora to also memorialize the baseball player, who married his Donora High School sweetheart and went on to play for St. Louis for 22 consecutive seasons following graduation.

“Maybe down the road,” Lignelli said about the statue.

The Donora-Monessen Bridge has already been renamed in Musial’s honor.

Steve Russell, a retired Belle Vernon Area High School superintendent and avid sports memorabilia collector, will deliver the eulogy at the Donora Mass scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. There also will be readings connected to his family.

A video on Musial’s life provided by his family will be shown at the Donora Borough building, 601 Meldon Ave., following the church service, Lignelli said. Refreshments will be served.